APHIS Restricts the Entry of European Cherry Fruit Fly (Rhagoletis cerasi) Host Commodities from the Provinces of Ontario and Quebec, Canada into the United States

FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION
DA-2024-10
April 1, 2024

Subject:  APHIS Restricts the Entry of European Cherry Fruit Fly (Rhagoletis cerasi) Host Commodities from the Provinces of Ontario and Quebec, Canada into the United States

To:  State, Tribal, and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

Effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) amends Federal Order DA-2017-15 (255.06 KB) to include the Province of Quebec, Canada and now prohibits entry of European cherry fruit fly (ECFF) host commodities from Ontario and Quebec, Canada into the United States. APHIS is taking this action in response to detections of ECFF in Quebec and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) expanding its regulatory area to include Quebec. APHIS has determined that Quebec, Canada is subject to the same prohibitions currently in place for Ontario, Canada.

To prevent the introduction of ECFF into the United States, APHIS prohibits entry of fresh fruit of the following host commodities from the Provinces of Ontario and Quebec, Canada: black cherry (Prunus serotina), mahaleb cherry (P. mahaleb), sour cherry (P. cerasus), and sweet cherry (P. avium). Wild Prunus spp. and Lonicera spp. fruits are also hosts and, therefore, prohibited. APHIS also requires that imports of the listed commodities from Canadian Provinces other than Ontario or Quebec must have their origin verified. Origin may be verified by shipping documents (such as bill of lading) or other proof of origin acceptable to APHIS.

Prior to 2017, ECFF host commodities were enterable into the United States from all Canadian Provinces with inspection at the port of entry. Due to multiple detections of ECFF in 2017, APHIS issued Federal Order DA-2017-15 to prohibit entry of ECFF host material from the Province of Ontario, Canada. In July 2022, the CFIA confirmed the presence of ECFF in association with wild honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) shrubs and an ornamental Prunus sp. tree in Quebec, Canada. Continuing our effort to prevent the entry of ECFF into the United States on imported material, APHIS has determined that the Province of Quebec, Canada is subject to the same prohibitions as Ontario.

For additional information regarding this Federal Order, please contact Regulatory Policy Specialist Julie Orr at 240-946-0542 or via email at julie.orr@usda.gov.

/s/

Dr. Mark L Davidson
Deputy Administrator
Plant Protection and Quarantine

Attachment: Federal Order